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He offered his thoughts about the game as well as answered questions from fans watching the Oklahoma Thunder edge out the San Antonio Spurs in a down-to-the-wire victory.

The Chicago native has a long-time relationship with round ball. Common starred as an NBA New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) in the 2010 romantic comedy Just Wright. His dad, Lonnie Lynn, was a player in the 70’s American Basketball Association.

“I definitely feel I inherited some of that love for basketball from my father being in the ABA,” he told NBA.com of his dad’s years as a member of the Pittsburgh Pipers. “And also being from Chicago…we were surrounded by basketball. I really, really love it.”

As for who the hardcore Chicago Bulls fan is supporting after the season-ending injury of MVP Derrick Rose, Common may surprise some Windy City fans.

“I’m rooting for the Miami Heat,” he said. “I have a real good high respect for Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. And Dwayne Wade is from Chicago so I root for my Chicago guys.”

But Common is not quitting his day job. The rapper has already released his critically acclaimed ninth studio album The Dreamer/The Believer in late 2011. And he is set to be featured on Kanye West’s GOOD Music compilation album Cruel Summer, due out later this summer. —Keith Murphy, CBS Local